Wales and southwest England: Golf's Road Less Travelled (Part 7)

Anyone who has played the Church Course at St. Enodoc knows it to be a pot o’ gold lying in wait at the end of this rainbow of a trip into western-most England. As it rests on the shore of the quay, there aren’t many places in the world that you could say surpass the views. But what is even better is the utterly enjoyable yet testing links that awaits. Of all the courses we played on this trip – and most were wonderful at a minimum – this little slice of heaven had by far the most memorable holes. Everything you read will mention the sixth hole and navigating its unusually massive dune, as well as the incredibly hard par-4 10th that needs to be played as a par 5 by all but the best of players. But that does a disservice to another dozen holes that are terrific in their own right. The five par 3s alone are worth the price of admission. The par 4s come in every variety: uphill and down, long, short and in between. Count on all of your clubs being used. There are just 2 par 5s, the sporty first hole that is a solid starting challenge and the lengthy 16th that plays right along the quay. This is a course you would never tire of playing. Were I to plan another trip in this portion of the world, it would involve a stay nearby in order to get in multiple rounds at this most special place.

Hutchie was blessed to have a buggy again. So Lucky Lew was able to come along for the ride but unable to play. He did drag himself onto a few greens for the occasional putt just to do something other than keep score. When we played the brutish 18th, Billy smother-hooked one over to the adjacent first fairway and Hutchie and I split the fairway. All of us managed to hit the green (great shot, Billy!) and par the hole. Just a great way for us to end our golf.

We managed to make it back to the United States with only a couple of minor issues, but nothing reaching calamity status. Unfortunately, upon his return Lucky had to have surgery on his back. Hutchie still gets the occasional painful gout attack. Billy and I are in good shape but I really wonder if we’ll ever get back to these pure links again. If we don’t, I can say that I’m so very grateful for all the memories of what we were able to do.